Twelve weeks out from the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, a race at Santa Anita and three races at tracks back East on Saturday began the sorting out process before the first Friday and Saturday in May.

At Santa Anita, the 32nd running of $300,000, Grade I Las Virgenes Stakes went to Fashion Plate, the Simon Callaghan-trained daughter of Old Fashioned by the Citidancer mare Miss Puzzle. Owned by Arnold Zetcher and Michael Tabor, Fashion Plate won for the second straight time after two losses. Ridden expertly by Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens, Fashion Plate held off a fast-charging even-money favorite, Streaming, trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Martin Garcia.

Fashion Plate, who beat Streaming by half a length, paid $11.40, $4.40 and $3.80. She earned $180,000 and 50 Kentucky Oaks points to qualify for that race.

“When they came to her, she really dug in and tried real hard,” Callaghan said. “She’s a special filly. It means a lot to win this race. Gary put up a great ride. She went nice fractions (23.19, 46.26, 1:10.91, 1:23.75 for a final 1:37.22 for the 1 mile race). She went pretty quick and I think that was a testament to her courage and ability that she was able to do that and sustain the run. She beat some good horses and it the hard way with good fractions.”

Callaghan said he’ll point Fashion Plate to the Santa Anita Oaks on April 5 and “if she does well there, maybe we’ll take her to Kentucky (for the Oaks, May 2, the Friday before Kentucky Derby day).”

Zetcher, who was asked by Tabor to buy interest in half of the filly, said not so fast. Zetcher said he has another 3-year-old filly, Pillow, who will run in his wife, Ellen’s silks. He would like nothing more than to be at Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Oaks with one of them, but he knows the Derby and Oaks trails are tough.

“We’ve learned to take it one race at a time,” Zetcher said. “This was a tough race, and to see the other horses come at her and for her to hold on, it was just unbelievable. When she took the lead, that was exciting, and when they came to her, she dug right in. We watch a lot of races, but this is as exciting as anything.”

In the $200,000, Grade II Arcadia Stakes, Winning Prize, ridden by Rafael Bejarano for trainer Neil Drysdale, beat Tom’s Tribute by 1½ lengths in a race for older horses at one mile on the turf.

Elsewhere in big Derby prep races for 3-year-olds, Samraat, by Noble Causeway out of the Indian Charlie mare Little Indian Girl, won a speed duel with Uncle Sigh in the 134th running of the Grade III Withers at Aqueduct, a prep race for the Wood Memorial. And long shot Vincermos ($26.80) was the big upset winner in the Grade III Sam F. Davis Stakes for trainer Todd Pletcher at Tampa Bay Downs, a prep for the Tampa Bay Derby. Vincermos, ridden by Edgar Prado, beat stablemate Harpoon, who charged to take second in the photo to give Pletcher the 1-2 finishers. Harpoon is a Tapit colt out of the Star de Naskra mare Christmas Star. Wildcat Red, by D’wildcat won the 64th running of the $200,000 Grade III Hutcheson at 7 furlongs at Gulfstream Park.